SmartThings Hub

The SmartThings Hub lets you control ZigBee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi home-automation devices from your iOS or Android smartphone. It's a snap to install, is relatively inexpensive, and works with IFTTT recipes, and its burgeoning developer community gives it an edge over the competition.

Pros

Cons

No native camera support.
Requires wired Ethernet connection.
No support for Insteon or ClearConnect protocols.

Bottom Line

The SmartThings Hub lets you control ZigBee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi home-automation devices from your iOS or Android smartphone.
It's a snap to install, is relatively inexpensive, and works with IFTTT recipes, and its burgeoning developer community gives it an edge over the competition.

29 May 2014John R. Delaney

The SmartThings Hub is the latest multi-protocol system to hit the fast-growing, do-it-yourself home-automation market. Available as a stand-alone hub ($99) or in two kits ($199 and $299) bundled with various sensors and switches, SmartThings supports Z-Wave, ZigBee, and Wi-Fi wireless communications, as well as the popular and fun IFTTT (If This Then That) Internet service. It is similar to hubs from Revolv and Staples Connect in that it provides a single app to control multiple devices, but its open platform approach to connecting to a variety of products sets it apart from the pack. It doesn't support popular wireless protocols like Insteon and Lutron's ClearConnect, and it requires a wired Ethernet connection, but it's otherwise a comprehensive solution and our first Editors' Choice for home-automation systems.

Features and Installation

I received the SmartThings Know and Control Your Home Kit ($299), which includes the Hub, two SmartSense Presence Sensors, two open/close vibration and temperature sensors (SmartSense Multi), a Jasco Appliance Module (smart power outlet), and a SmartSense Motion Sensor. Also in the box are an Ethernet cable, a power cord, batteries for the motion sensor, and adhesive tape for the open/close sensors.

The Hub measures 1.2 by 4.7 by 5.5 inches (HWD) and has a glossy white finish with a round SmartThings logo etched into the top. An Ethernet port, a power jack, and a tiny power LED are located on the back of the Hub. All of the SmartThings devices that came with the kit also sport a white finish.

In addition to the aforementioned devices, SmartThings offers a SmartSense Moisture Sensor that lets you know when moisture from leaky pipes or flooding is present, making it ideal for vacation homes, laundry rooms, and spas. The Hub is also compatible with several Schlage and Kwikset door locks, and more half a dozen GE light switches and wall outlets, but it does not currently offer native support for security cameras. However, camera support is on the company's roadmap and will be available soon.

SmartThings Labs is what really sets this platform apart from the Revolv and Staples hubs. In addition to a team of in-house engineers, the Labs has at its disposal the work of a growing community of developers writing SmartApps and creating hooks, which allow previously unsupported devices to communicate with the SmartThings Hub. So, if you have a Z-Wave, ZigBee, or Wi-Fi device that is not currently on the SmartThings supported list, fear not—chances are someone is figuring out a way to make it work. In fact, SmartThings Labs has recently added support for Belkin WeMo devices, Philips Hue lighting, and Sonos audio products. Additionally, SmartThings supports IFTTT (If This Then That) Internet recipes which allow you to create trigger-based actions using channels such as Facebook, Foursquare, ESPN, and Twitter. Neither the Revolv nor the Staples hub offer IFTTT support.

Setting up the SmartThings Hub was a piece of cake. The first order of business is to download the app, which is available for iOS and Android devices. Unfortunately, there is no Web-based application for controlling your SmartThings devices.

Once the app is downloaded, it's time to connect the Hub to your router using the included LAN cable, and then power it up. You can't connect to your network wirelessly like you can with the Revolv hub, so your installation is limited to a location with a nearby wired Ethernet port. Once you've created a SmartThings account, you will be asked to enter a welcome code that comes with the Hub. After 30 seconds or so, you'll get a message stating that the Hub is connected and up to date. At this point, you can take a brief tutorial that shows you how to use the app and add devices.

App and Performance

The SmartThings iOS app is packed with features and is easy to navigate. There are three main views; Dashboard, Things, and Apps. The Things view displays each connected device and their current status. Here you can turn devices on and off, add new devices, and configure existing devices.

The Dashboard view contains five of the most widely used device categories, including Home and Family, Doors and Locks, Lights and Switches, Damage and Danger, and Motion. In the Dashboard view you can check the current status of people and connected devices, as well as view recent activity.

The Home and Family category uses the SmartSense Presence Sensors to tell you when family members have entered and left the house. You can attach one of these little sensors to a pet's collar to keep tabs on your pooch, too. The sensors have a range of 50 to 150 feet, depending on the location of your Hub and the materials used in your home's construction. The cool thing about SmartSense is that you can have SmartThings turn on lights, unlock doors, and send text messages when someone arrives home. Likewise, you can have it turn things off and lock up when someone leaves. Each sensor can be customized for individual family members, and you can assign a photo to each sensor to identify it on the Dashboard. For example, I put my son's picture on one sensor and my wife's on the other, and was able to tell who just came home by glancing at the dashboard.

About the Author

As a Contributing Editor for PC Magazine, John Delaney has been testing and reviewing monitors, HDTVs, PCs, servers, and other assorted hardware and peripherals for more than 14 years. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's Labs (most recently as Director of Operations), John was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of the Labs technical staff, as well as evaluating and maintaining the integrity of the Labs testing machines and procedures.

Prior to joining Ziff Davis Publishing, John spent six years in retail operations for Federated Stores, Inc. before accepting a purchasing position with Morris Decision Systems, one of New York's first value-added resellers of the original IBM PC. For ... See Full Bio